In the state of Colorado, on the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains lies the American Ski Mecca – Aspen Resort, which consists of four ski areas: Aspen Mountain, Aspen Highlands, Snowmass and Buttermilk. Originally, Aspen was just an ordinary town, where silver was mined in the 19th century and silver mines were built. Subsequently, it developed rapidly and today thousands of skiers from all over the world come here. The resort is also popular for its large concentration of celebrities, which you can come across at every turn. Sufficient altitude ensures quality snow cover all year round. On average, 7.60 meters of snow fall here every year and skiing is mostly on soft powder.
According to Iamaccepted, Aspen offers great skiing conditions and a total of about 500 km of slopes. The individual areas are interconnected by regular ski buses. Here you will find trails for both beginners and experienced skiers who are looking for extremes. For less skiers, the Buttermilk resort is ideal with wide and gentle slopes, which are complemented by a few bumps. The center regularly hosts the ESPN Winter X Games, which are extreme snowboard and ski races, but also has a simple terrain park for lessons. The Snowmass area is suitable for advanced skiers, as there are several popular black trails, the most famous of which are Powderhorn, Slot and Zugspritz. The Big Burn ski slope over a kilometer wide is also interesting. Aspen Mountain has difficult and extreme slopes that are challenging for experienced and professional skiers. The area was opened in 1947 and boasted the longest lift in the world. In 1950, Aspen Mountain became the first American resort to host an international skiing competition. However, the busiest and most visited is the Aspen Highlands, where you will find terrains of all levels, which are interconnected. That’s why everyone can really do their thing here. The most sought-after place is the Highland Bowl. Every day, the snowmobile transports extreme skiers to the very top, up to 3,600 meters above sea level. From the top, they can then head down the fresh and untouched plains.
A great service for skiers is the possibility to rent equipment on site every day, so you don’t have to carry it with you. After skiing, you will return it, tell you where you will ride the next day and the skis will be waiting for you there. Children were also remembered in the area, for whom there are many attractions, such as snow tunnels, jumps, bumps, forts and crazy slalom. They can go to see the herd of domesticated deer or it is possible that they will meet a snowman on a snowboard. The children will not really be bored here. Skiing in Aspen is a relatively expensive affair. An adult can travel, accommodation, food, and season tickets for about $ 87 or more.
Curecanti National Recreation Area
The Curecanti Recreation Area is located around the Blue Mesa Reservoir, Colorado’s largest water reservoir on the Gunnison River. The dam is 20 miles long and 390 feet high. The river banks are very steep and side tributaries have eroded even smaller canyons in the area. The area is attractive for its beautiful places suitable for swimming. However, you have to reckon with the fact that the river is very cold, so only large hardy dogs can withstand the water. The Gunnison River then flows further downstream into Black Canyon.
It lies south of the town of Crawford, at an altitude of about 2500 meters above sea level, it includes one of the deepest and most interesting canyons in the United States – Black Canyon. The park is frequently visited by tourists for its unique natural beauty, hiking, climbing, camping and rafting. It has also become home to many species of plants and animals. From the plants you will come across mahogany or junipers, the edges of the canyon are also covered with low dwarf oaks. The animal kingdom is represented by elk, coyotes, rabbits, eagles and other animals.
Black Canyon of the Gunnison became a national monument in 1933. In 1999, its status was changed to a national park. Today, the park protects unique rock walls, which date back to the Precambrian period 500 million years ago. In total, the canyon is 78 km long, but the national park belongs to 22.5 km. The depth of the canyon is sometimes up to 829 meters, its width ranges from 12 to 335 meters. Two more dams were built on the Gunnison River in the last century – the 12-mile Morrow Point Reservoir and the Crystal Reservoir.
